How to Open a Bank Account in Indonesia as a Foreigner in 2026

Reviewed by Florent Delente, Founder, ILA Global Consulting. Last updated: October 2026.

To open a personal bank account in Indonesia as a foreigner, you need a valid passport and a residence permit (KITAS or KITAP), plus a local phone number and an opening deposit that starts around IDR 250,000 to IDR 500,000. BCA, Mandiri and BNI all publish these rules for foreign nationals on their own websites. On a tourist visa or visa on arrival, mainstream banks will usually turn you away. A company account for a PT PMA needs the company’s deeds, NIB and tax number, and the directors in person at the branch.

This guide covers personal accounts, company accounts, e-wallets, money transfers, tax reporting and what to do with the account when you leave. All USD figures use one rate: IDR 17,900 per USD (Katadata, 5 October 2026).

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Indonesia?

Yes, if you live here on a residence permit. Indonesian banks must identify every customer under the anti-money laundering rules set by OJK, the financial services regulator, in POJK 8/2023. For a foreigner, that identity check is built around two documents: the passport and the stay permit.

Here is what the main banks publish today:

• BCA asks foreign citizens living in Indonesia for a passport and a KITAS or KITAP. Its product page adds that foreigners who are not domiciled in Indonesia may be asked for extra documents under the anti-money laundering guidelines (BCA Tahapan).
• Bank Mandiri accepts a passport plus a valid KITAS, KITAP or Golden Visa (Mandiri Tabungan Rupiah).
• BNI accepts a passport plus a KIMS, KITAS or KITAP (BNI Taplus).

A KITAS is the limited stay permit (one or two years) issued for work, investment, retirement, family or remote work. A KITAP is the permanent stay permit. If you do not hold either yet, start with our guide to getting a KITAS in Bali.

What about a tourist visa or visa on arrival?

No major bank publishes an account for visitors on a visa on arrival (IDR 500,000, 30 days, extendable once) or a C-type visit visa. BCA’s wording leaves a narrow door open for non-domiciled foreigners with extra documents, but in practice branch staff decide, and most say no without a KITAS. You will read online about Bali branches opening accounts for visitors “with a sponsor”. Treat that as an exception, not a route to plan around. An account opened in someone else’s name, or with a borrowed address letter, can be frozen at the first compliance review and leaves your money in another person’s hands.

If you are moving to Indonesia to run a business, the account usually comes after the company and the KITAS. ILA’s business setup team plans that sequence so the bank file is complete on the first visit.

Which Indonesian banks accept foreigners?

All large Indonesian banks serve KITAS holders. The differences are in the opening deposit, the monthly fee, foreign currency options and how comfortable the branch is with expats. The table below uses each bank’s published figures where they exist.

Two practical points. First, the “best” bank is often the one with a branch near you and staff used to foreign customers. In Bali, branches in Denpasar, Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud see expats daily. Second, consider two accounts: a BCA or Mandiri account for daily life (QR payments, utility bills, transfers to Indonesian suppliers) and a multi-currency account for receiving money from abroad.

What documents do you need?

The core file is the same everywhere. What changes is the extra paperwork your status triggers.

A few of these need a word of explanation:

• NPWP is your Indonesian tax identification number. BCA lists it only for Indonesian citizens, BNI does not mention it, and Mandiri lists it without saying who it applies to. Bring it if you have one, because it also avoids questions later when balances grow. Our NPWP guide explains how foreigners register.
• SKTT (Surat Keterangan Tempat Tinggal) is the residence certificate issued by the local civil registry to KITAS holders. Banks like it as proof of address because it matches your permit. ILA handles the SKTT application if you do not have one.
• Reference letter: some branches ask retirees (E33F) or remote workers (E33G) without a local employer for a letter from their sponsor, or a statement from their home bank. It is a branch practice, not a published rule, so ask when you book.
• Phone number: register a local SIM in your own name with your passport. Mobile banking codes go to that number, and a SIM registered to someone else causes trouble when you lose access.

How much does an Indonesian bank account cost?

Day-to-day accounts are cheap. BCA’s published tariff shows an opening placement from IDR 500,000, a minimum held balance of IDR 50,000 and a monthly fee between IDR 14,000 and IDR 20,000 depending on the debit card (about USD 0.80 to USD 1.10). If your average balance drops below IDR 100,000, BCA adds a IDR 5,000 penalty on the Blue card (BCA Riplay Tahapan).

BNI charges IDR 11,000 a month on Taplus and fines IDR 5,000 when the balance falls under IDR 150,000 (BNI Taplus). Its app-based Taplus Digital variant waives the fee for the first six months (BNI Taplus Digital).

Where the real cost hides is in transfers abroad, currency conversion and card use outside Indonesia. Ask for the SWIFT fee and the exchange spread before you choose.

Is your money protected?

Deposits at banks that take part in the scheme are guaranteed by LPS, the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation, up to IDR 2 billion per depositor per bank (about USD 112,000). The guarantee only applies if your interest rate does not exceed the LPS guaranteed rate, so very high promotional rates can fall outside it (LPS).

How do you open a personal account, step by step?

1. Check your KITAS dates. Some branches hesitate when the permit expires within a few months. If an extension is due, do it first.
2. Gather originals and copies: passport, KITAS or KITAP, NPWP if you have one, SKTT or lease, and your Indonesian phone.
3. Go to a branch in person. First accounts for foreigners are opened at the counter, not in the app.
4. Fill in the forms, including a tax residency self-certification (see the reporting section below).
5. Pay the opening deposit in cash or by transfer.
6. Collect the debit card and activate mobile banking before you leave the branch, while staff can help with the first login.

Most KITAS holders with a complete file leave with an active account and card on the same visit. Credit cards are a different story: they usually require a work contract, income history or a cash guarantee. Our guide to loans for foreigners covers credit in more detail.

How do you open a corporate bank account for a PT PMA?

A PT PMA is a foreign-owned limited liability company. It needs its own Indonesian bank account to receive its capital, pay suppliers and staff, and file taxes cleanly. You cannot run company money through a director’s personal account without creating tax and audit problems.

Documents

BCA’s published list for a PT is a good benchmark, and other banks ask for close to the same file (BCA Tahapan Gold):

• ID (passport for foreigners) and NPWP of all board members
• ID and NPWP of all shareholders
• The company’s NPWP
• Deed of establishment and articles of association
• Any deed of amendment, plus the deed showing the current board
• The approval or notification receipt from the Ministry of Law
• NIB (the business identification number issued through OSS), plus other permits where the business activity requires them

Corporate shareholders add their own constitutional documents, and the bank will map out the ultimate beneficial owner. OJK rules require due diligence on beneficial owners for every customer type (POJK 8/2023).

Who must be at the branch

The person opening the account is a director with authority under the articles, not a commissioner. Banks want to meet the signatories, take specimen signatures and verify their identity in person. A director holding a KITAS makes this straightforward. A director who lives abroad can sometimes sign on a business visit with a passport, but each bank decides, so confirm before you fly.

The capital deposit

Under BKPM Regulation 5/2025, a PT PMA must deposit at least IDR 2.5 billion of paid-up capital in cash per business activity (KBLI), about USD 140,000. That cash must stay in the company’s bank account for 12 months unless it is used for capital expenditure or working capital (Withers). If you plan to hold an investor KITAS (E28A), the investor still needs IDR 10 billion of shares in their name. The bank statement showing the paid-up capital becomes part of your compliance file, so make the transfer from the shareholder’s own account with a clear reference. Our PT PMA setup guide walks through the capital rules in full.

Timeline and set-up

Once the file is complete, expect a few working days to two weeks for the account number and internet banking. The bank then issues tokens or app access in two roles: a maker who prepares payments and an approver who releases them. Decide early who holds each role, especially if the founders are often abroad. Not every bank issues corporate debit cards, so if you need cash access, ask before you choose.

Can you use GoPay, OVO or DANA as a foreigner?

Partly. E-wallets are how most Indonesians pay for rides, food and small shops, so they matter even if you have a bank account.

• GoPay lets foreign nationals upgrade to GoPay Plus with a passport photo and a selfie. GoPay Plus raises the balance limit to IDR 20,000,000 (about USD 1,117) and adds transfers to bank accounts and cardless cash at BCA ATMs (GoPay Plus).
• OVO and DANA verify full accounts against the Indonesian e-KTP, so foreigners usually stay on the basic tier with lower limits.
• Each e-wallet needs an Indonesian phone number. To top up, you need an Indonesian bank account or a convenience store counter.

For short visits without a KITAS, the realistic set-up is a foreign debit or credit card with low foreign transaction fees, a multi-currency card from your home country, ATM withdrawals for cash, and GoPay Plus on your passport.

How do international transfers work?

Money arrives in Indonesia by SWIFT transfer to your bank, or through licensed money transfer services that pay into Indonesian accounts. Each route has a fee and an exchange spread; compare the total amount received, not the advertised fee.

Some practical points:

• A multi-currency account (OCBC’s Tanda 360 Plus holds 12 currencies in one account) lets you receive USD, EUR or AUD and convert when the rate suits you (OCBC).
• Large foreign currency purchases against rupiah need an underlying document, such as an invoice or contract, above a monthly threshold set by Bank Indonesia, commonly cited as USD 100,000 per month.
• Keep a paper trail. When you transfer savings to buy property, pay capital into a PT PMA or receive a salary from abroad, the bank may ask where the funds came from. Contracts, payslips and statements save days.

Will your Indonesian bank report your account to your home country?

Yes, if you are tax resident elsewhere. Indonesia exchanges financial account information under the OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS). Banks must collect a self-certification of tax residency, including your foreign tax number, from every new customer identified as foreign, and you must tell the bank within 90 days if your situation changes (OJK SEOJK 16/SEOJK.03/2017, Annex I). For pre-existing company accounts, the review threshold is an aggregate balance of USD 250,000.

US citizens and green card holders are also covered by FATCA, and Indonesian banks ask them for a US tax form at opening. The practical message is simple: an Indonesian account is not hidden from your home tax office. Declare it where you must, and get advice if you are becoming tax resident in Indonesia. ILA’s accounting and tax team can review your position.

What should you do with the account when you leave Indonesia?

Banks link your account to your KITAS. When the permit ends, the account does not close itself straight away, but problems start: mobile banking may be restricted when your data expires, and you can no longer update your file without a valid permit.

Before you leave:

1. Move your balance out to your home account or a multi-currency account while you still have full access.
2. Close the account at the branch. At BCA you close at the branch where you opened the account and pay a IDR 50,000 closing fee. BCA also closes accounts automatically after six consecutive months at zero balance (BCA Riplay Tahapan).
3. Cancel direct debits for utilities, insurance and subscriptions, and update your BPJS and tax records.
4. Download statements for the last years. You will need them for your final Indonesian tax return and your home country declaration.
5. Do not leave an account dormant. In 2025, PPATK, Indonesia’s financial intelligence unit, temporarily blocked large numbers of dormant accounts. An idle account in a country you have left is hard to reactivate.

If you plan to come back, keeping one account open can make sense, but keep it active and your address details current.

Common mistakes that cost foreigners time and money

• Opening a company account before the PT PMA deeds and NIB are final, then redoing it after an amendment.
• Paying the PT PMA capital from a third party’s account, which breaks the link between shareholder and capital.
• Using a director’s personal account for company receipts.
• Registering your SIM card or e-wallet with someone else’s ID.
• Letting the KITAS expire while the bank still holds it as your main ID.
• Signing up with an agent who promises an account on a tourist visa through a nominee.

Get your bank file right the first time

Most rejected bank applications come down to an incomplete file or a status mismatch: wrong permit, missing SKTT, a company document that does not match the NIB. ILA prepares the immigration, tax and company documents that banks ask for and coordinates with the branch so you go once. Contact our team to plan your KITAS, NPWP and company account together.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I open a bank account in Indonesia with a tourist visa or visa on arrival?

Usually not. BCA, Mandiri and BNI publish a KITAS or KITAP requirement for foreign nationals. BCA allows that non-domiciled foreigners may be asked for extra documents, but branches rarely accept visitors. Plan on a KITAS first.

Which bank is easiest for foreigners in Indonesia?

BCA and Mandiri are the most practical for daily life because of their ATM and merchant networks. BNI has the lowest published opening deposit outside Jakarta (IDR 250,000). For foreign currency, a multi-currency account such as OCBC Tanda 360 Plus is useful alongside.

Do I need an NPWP to open a personal account?

Not always. BCA lists NPWP only for Indonesian citizens and BNI does not mention it, while Mandiri lists it as a requirement. Bring it if you have it; a company account always needs the company NPWP.

How much money do I need to open an account?

IDR 250,000 to IDR 500,000 at the big state and private banks, about USD 14 to USD 28. Business savings accounts start higher, for example IDR 10,000,000 at BCA Tahapan Gold.

Can a PT PMA director open the company account without a KITAS?

Sometimes, with a passport during a business visit, but it is at the bank’s discretion. A director with a KITAS avoids delays. Confirm with the branch before you travel.

Can foreigners use GoPay without an Indonesian ID?

Yes. GoPay Plus accepts a passport for foreign nationals and allows a balance up to IDR 20,000,000. You still need an Indonesian phone number.

Is my deposit guaranteed if the bank fails?

LPS guarantees deposits up to IDR 2 billion per depositor per bank, as long as your interest rate does not exceed the LPS guaranteed rate.

Should I close my account when I leave Indonesia?

Yes, unless you will keep using it. Move the balance, close it at the branch (BCA charges IDR 50,000) and keep your statements for your final tax filing.

Sources

1. BCA, Tahapan savings account
2. BCA, Riplay Personal Tahapan (fees and terms)
3. BCA, Tahapan Gold business savings (company requirements)
4. Bank Mandiri, Tabungan Rupiah
5. BNI, Taplus
6. BNI, Taplus Digital
7. OCBC Indonesia, Tanda 360 Plus
8. GoPay, GoPay Plus upgrade
9. OJK, POJK 8/2023 on AML, CFT and CPF programmes in the financial sector
10. OJK, SEOJK 16/SEOJK.03/2017 Annex I, Common Reporting Standard
11. Withers, Key takeaways from BKPM Regulation No. 5 of 2025
12. LPS, Deposit guarantee
13. Katadata, Rupiah exchange rate, 5 October 2026